Playing college basketball isn’t a prerequisite to becoming a Pro Bowl tight end.

But, apparently, it sure doesn’t hurt.

Three of the four tight ends in today’s game at Aloha Stadium played college hoops, with Jimmy Graham of the New Orleans Saints the latest former power forward to make the jump to Pro Bowl status.

"I think a lot of things translate as far as footwork, hand-eye coordination, being able to attack the ball in the air," said Graham, who played basketball for four years at Miami (Fla.). "And even though we are pretty big, we’re still pretty good on our feet and still pretty fast because of basketball. It’s helped make me a better player, that’s for sure."

Graham followed the path paved by Atlanta’s Tony Gonzalez, a two-sport star at California in his college days, and San Diego’s Antonio Gates, who led Kent State to the NCAA Tournament’s Elite Eight in 2002.

Both have established themselves as Pro Bowl mainstays. Gonzalez is making his 12th appearance in the game, while Gates has earned eight berths in nine years in the NFL.

"That’s the film I’ve been breaking down the last two years," Graham said. "Especially Gonzalez because our body types are so similar. … He’s been a big help as far as just me studying him."

This week’s stay in Hawaii has given Graham a chance to get to know Gonzalez beyond the film room as NFC teammates.

"It’s crazy. In the same huddle with two-tight-end sets, hanging out with him all week, it’s pretty surreal," Graham said. "He’s a guy I’ve looked up to ever since I came into the league. It’s pretty special."

The 6-foot-8 Graham could become a Pro Bowl regular himself after posting one of the greatest seasons for a tight end in league history.

In his second year with the Saints, he led the team with 11 touchdown receptions and eclipsed the previous NFL record for receiving yards by a tight end with 1,310, good for seventh in the league. But New England’s Rob Gronkowski will own the top line in the record book after finishing the regular season with 1,327 yards to edge Graham and set the mark.

Still, leading a prolific Saints offense in receiving isn’t too shabby for a guy who went out for football as a graduate student mainly for "the opportunity to run through the smoke at the University of Miami."

"I had some tryouts (for basketball), but in the end to go back to college and to be a two-sport athlete I thought would be pretty cool."

Graham had earned degrees in business management and marketing at Miami and stuck around to play a season of football in which he caught 17 passes for 213 yards and five touchdowns.

"After a while I kind of got wind that I could do this for a career," he said.

The potential Graham displayed was enough for the Saints to select him in the third round of the 2010 draft. He caught 31 passes as a rookie before more than tripling that total with 99 receptions this season, a reflection of his connection with Saints quarterback Drew Brees, who led the NFL in passing yards.

"I’m beyond lucky to have my first year as a starter in the NFL and to make it to the Pro Bowl," Graham said. "(Drew) just brought me along with him and hopefully he can do that every year."